Cleaning Robot Dual-Voltage Power Control for Battery Life Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning robots face challenges in balancing power consumption and moving freedom, as they need to manage high power for cleaning operations and low power for extended battery life, often requiring trade-offs between cleaning efficiency and duration.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning robot with a power converting unit that supplies different voltages for moving and cleaning operations, allowing the robot to switch between modes based on cleaning state, operation mode, and environmental conditions, such as stopping the cleaning unit when moving on already cleaned areas to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the cleaning robot receives high-voltage AC power through a wire, then the sucking force of the cleaning unit is high, but the moving freedom of the robot is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into multiple voltage levels: high voltage for cleaning operations and low voltage for moving operations. This allows the robot to optimize power usage by applying high voltage only when cleaning is required, while using low voltage for navigation and inspection, thereby maintaining both high sucking force and moving freedom
Solution Approach 2:
The power converting unit dynamically switches between different voltage outputs based on the current operation mode. The control unit adjusts the power conversion ratio in real-time, converting battery power to high voltage during cleaning operations and maintaining low voltage during moving operations, enabling the system to adapt its power characteristics to operational needs
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning robot uses battery power, then the moving freedom is improved, but the power consumption is limited by battery size
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the voltage parameter dynamically based on operational requirements. By converting battery power to high voltage during cleaning operations and maintaining low voltage during moving operations, the system optimizes power consumption while maximizing the utility of the battery, effectively extending operational duration without increasing battery size
3Power
If the cleaning robot generates high output, then the sucking force is high, but the power consumption increases and cleaning duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The high-power cleaning operation is applied periodically only when necessary, rather than continuously. The control unit monitors the cleaning state and operation mode, activating high-voltage power conversion during cleaning operations and switching to low-voltage mode during moving or inspecting operations, thereby reducing overall power consumption and extending cleaning duration
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies high power only partially during cleaning operations rather than continuously. By using high voltage only when the cleaning unit is actively cleaning and using low voltage for moving and inspection, the system achieves sufficient cleaning performance while significantly reducing total power consumption, thereby extending operational duration
4Productivity
If the cleaning robot operates the cleaning unit continuously, then the cleaning efficiency is high, but the power consumption efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the operation mode and cleaning state to determine when high-power cleaning is necessary. This feedback mechanism allows the system to activate the cleaning unit only when appropriate, avoiding unnecessary power consumption during moving or inspection phases, thereby improving power consumption efficiency while maintaining cleaning efficiency when needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances cleaning efficiency by using high-voltage power for cleaning and low-voltage power for moving, improving power consumption efficiency and extending battery life by optimizing power use based on operational needs.
Implementation Method 1
a power converting unit (i.e., a power converter) which may convert and outputs power supplied from the battery into a first voltage driving the moving unit and a second voltage driving the cleaning unit
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning robot and a control method thereof may improve power consumption efficiency by using low-voltage power for a moving or inspecting operation and performing the moving or inspecting operation while operation of the cleaning unit is stopped when the operation of the cleaning unit is not needed. The cleaning robot includes a battery, a moving unit, a cleaning unit, a power converter which converts and outputs power supplied from the battery into a first voltage driving the moving unit and a second voltage driving the cleaning unit, and a controller which supplies power having the first voltage to the moving unit so as to drive the moving unit and supplies power having the second voltage to the cleaning unit so as to perform a cleaning operation. The controller continues driving the moving unit but stops driving the cleaning unit when the cleaning robot moves on an already cleaned area.